Battery Leads to THC Felony Charge

A police response to a disturbance in the town of Saratoga led to a man being arrested for felony THC possession, battery and criminal damage to property.

Gavin O’Neil, 23, formerly of the Rapids area and now living in Madison, faces up to three years and six months imprisonment, a $10,000 fine or both for his second charge of THC possession. He is also charged with misdemeanor battery, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property, charges with a maximum sentence of nine months imprisonment, a $10,000 fine or both.

According to court documents, on July 30, Wood County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a Town of Saratoga residence on the 4700 block of Hwy. 73 on a complaint that O’Neil was breaking things at the residence.

Upon arrival, police spoke with a woman who said she had a 4-month-old son with the defendant. She said O’Neil had struck her in her vehicle and again in her home. She elaborated to say he had hit, kicked and kneed her. Police observed her nose had a bluish color and and she had marks and abrasions to her head and a lump on her right shin.

O’Neil’s father reported to police that he’d seen his son strike the side window of the vehicle and then climb on the hood and break the windshield.

Another resident at the home told police that O’Neil had made pot brownies which police confiscated and tested positively for marijuana.

The criminal complaint also stated that O’Neil had violated a harassment restraining order in March and November of 2014.

On the same day after the arrest, a $1,000 cash bond was set for O’Neil under the provision that he maintain absolute sobriety, not enter any establishment that sells alcohol and have no contact with the victims or residence.

He remains in custody at the Wood County Jail.

O’Neil has pleaded not guilty to the charges of battery, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property. The count of THC possession has not yet been read in court.